Rapist's sister is made mayor

PITCAIRN Island has picked the sister of convicted rapist Steve Christian to be its first woman mayor in 214 years.

The seven-member governing council on the remote Pacific island, first settled by mutineers from HMS Bounty, unanimously chose Christian’s sister, Brenda, the island’s former police officer, to fill the post until an election on December 15.

Last month, six men were convicted of rapes and sex attacks dating back as far as 40 years on the island midway between New Zealand and South America.